Online Paralegal Certificate Program

Total Courses

$371

Cost per Credit

11 months

Average Completion*

15–18 Hours/Week

Course Effort

Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate Overview

It’s time to create more opportunities for your career. Earn your certificate online from the largest university provider of legal support services programs in the U.S. and be ready to meet the fast-growing demand for paralegals and legal assistants.

Build your knowledge of the paralegal profession and gain the foundational coursework to transition into the legal field.
Explore topics ranging from civil litigation and criminal law to legal writing and how to evaluate legal sources.
Apply the concepts you learn to real-world cases and relevant legal arguments.
Choose from four electives to gain specialized knowledge: Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning; Family Law; Bankruptcy and Debtor-Creditor Law; or Real Estate Law.

Come Back and Move Forward in a New Career

If you already possess a bachelor’s degree and are interested in changing careers, our paralegal certificate program can help you make that happen. Gain skills and knowledge you can apply right away:

Communicate effectively in legal environments.
Apply ethical decision-making to paralegal practice.
Apply critical thinking to paralegal practice situations.
Analyze theoretical and practical concepts in areas of legal specialization.
Conduct different types of legal research.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.

Get Started

What Courses Will I Take?

This paralegal certificate program will familiarize you with the role of the paralegal in the workplace and in the American legal system, preparing you for the real-world responsibilities of the career.

Sample Courses

Introduction to the Law and Legal Profession
Civil Litigation
Legal Ethics
Law Office Management
Legal Research and Writing

See All Paralegal Courses

Program Requirements

Major Courses

Total Courses

36-37

Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Not sure if Purdue Global is right for you? Try an undergraduate program for an introductory 3-week trial period.

There’s no financial obligation and no cost to apply. That’s the Purdue Global Commitment.

How It Works

Students who choose to continue at Purdue Global will be billed for the full first term's tuition, including the 3-week trial. See Notes and Conditions below.

You must be a high school graduate or possess a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or other equivalency diploma. You must also complete orientation before you start classes.

Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

Interaction With Faculty and Students

Courses Taught by Highly Respected Faculty

Learn from faculty who are legal practitioners with real-world expertise in legal services, law, and policy. Collaborate via live seminars, discussions boards, and one-on-one instructor interaction.

Engage With Fellow Students

When you earn your degree from Purdue Global, you join an active and diverse alumni community.

Students enrolled in the certificate program are invited to join organizations such as the Purdue Global Law Society for further networking and educational opportunities.

Discover your work interests and use them to chart your ideal career path.

Learn More

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions, including community colleges.

Prior Work Experience Reduction

You could earn undergraduate credit for your life and professional career experiences.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Grants and Loans

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Undergraduate tuition savings for military include a 55% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 38% per credit for veterans.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. The average Purdue Global military student is awarded 54% of the credits needed for an associate's and 45% of the credits needed for a bachelor's.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Career Opportunities

Paralegals often manage legal requirements for services in areas such as intellectual property, health care, international law, elder issues, criminal law, and environmental law. Purdue Global's online paralegal certificate program can provide you with the specialized knowledge to pursue legal assistant or paralegal career options in a range of settings including private law firms, corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title insurance firms, banks, and government agencies.

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

Download the Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about the Online Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global. Prepare yourself for success with a postbaccalaureate paralegal certificate.

View Brochure

Choosing a Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate

Enter the legal field with a bachelor’s degree. Learn the value of a postbaccalaureate certificate and how one could launch your career.

8 Non-Lawyer Jobs in the Legal Field

Build your career in the in-demand field of legal services. Learn pathways to success that don’t require a J.D.

What Does a Paralegal Do?

Discover the day-to-day duties of a paralegal. Learn the skills you need to succeed and common career pathways.

3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Legal Services Industry

See trends influencing legal services, discover the evolution of paraprofessional work, and fit the needs of an evolving field.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

54%

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

484

Faculty publications in 2022–2023

More Than 40,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

Connect with an Advisor Apply Online Today

NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

Job Growth for Paralegals and Legal Assistants: Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, www.bls.gov/ooh/Legal/Paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

Largest University Provider of Legal Support Services: Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2021–2022 Total Degrees and Certificates Conferred, First Major, Legal Support Services, https://nces.ed.gov/IPEDS. Based on the total number of degrees and certificates granted by Purdue Global compared to other degree-granting institutions.

Role of the Paralegal: Paralegals are not lawyers and cannot practice law or give legal advice. Graduates are not authorized to practice law and will not be eligible to sit for any state's bar examination. Programs were not designed to meet any specific state's requirements for licensure or certification, and Purdue Global makes no representations or warranties as to whether the degree or any individual courses meet such requirements. Refer to the University Catalog for additional information.

Three-Week Trial: Students who inform Purdue Global they do not wish to pursue the program during the 3-week trial will not be charged. Students who choose to continue at Purdue Global will be billed for the full first term's tuition, including the 3-week trial, and will need to meet other specific requirements. Classes will be applied toward a degree if satisfactorily completed and students select to continue their studies at Purdue Global. No credits are earned if the student withdraws during the introductory period (3 weeks for new qualifying undergraduate students), which begins day one of the first term. Graduate programs and BS in Professional Flight not included. Additional terms may apply to international and non-U.S. citizen students. For further information, see the University Catalog.

Pathway to Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate